The following table contains population data from each census from the first in 1790 to the most recent in l980. For each census year, I have listed the states in descending order by population size and shortened the names of the states to the current two-letter postal abbreviations. The population for each state is rounded off to the nearest thousand. When two or more states had the same rounded population in the same year, I have listed them in alphabetical order by their full names.

For each census year I have included only those states that were eligible to vote on constitutional amendments as of the beginning of that census year, although the census bureau often collected population figures for territories and dependencies ineligible to vote. This arrengement should help to highlight the crucial threshold of three-fourths of the states needed to amend; the list shown for each decade contains the total number of states from which the three-fourths would be calculated. The list does not include the District of Columbia because it has never been eligible to ratify amendments. A state becomes eligible to vote on amendments as soon as it is formally admitted to the Union; the number of states needed for ratification is increased if necessary at the same time.

At the top of each list, before the list of states begins, I have indicated how many states were then eligible to ratify amendments, and the number of states needed to meet the three-fourths requirement.

At the bottom of each list I have indicated the "total" population for that census year. This total is merely the sum of the state figures listed above it; it does not include the citizens of the District of Columbia, the citizens of the territories, or the Americans residing abroad. Curiously, although more complete totals are available for each census year, no totals are available that are published for each census year and calculated on the same basis for each census year.

The letter "M" stands for the "most" populous three-fourths of the states, and "L" for the "least" populous three-fourths of the states. The states comprising M and L are indicated by signs to the left of the respective threshold states in the lists themselves. I have calculated and noted the populations represented by M and L at the bottom of each list, along with the percentages that M and L represent of the "total" population. Note that if uniform, complete totals were available, M and L would comprise even smaller percentages of the national population than are shown here. Hence, when my data show L as less than 50% of the national population, better data would only show it even smaller. We cannot determine whether the four times that L exceeds 50% would actually dip below 50% with better data.

At the bottom of each list I have also indicated which of the twenty-six adopted, and six defeated, amendments were proposed and ratified in the decade beginning with that census. The "six defeated" amendments are those that were proposed by Congress with the requisite two-thirds votes of each house, but did not muster the requisite ratifying votes from three-fourths of the states. Of course, there have been thousands of proposals defeated at the congressional stage. I have given the dates of proposal and ratification for each adopted amendment, and the dates of proposal for the six defeated amendments. The date of proposal is the date the amendment was approved by Congress and sent to the states. The date of ratification is the day the Secretary of State or Administrator of General Services proclaimed the validity of the amendment. The defeated amendments, of course, have determinate dates of proposal, but they do not always have determinate dates of defeat. Only recently, since the eighteenth amendment, have we put a deadline for ratification into the texts of proposed amendments themselves. If the amendment contains no deadline, the rule seems to be that ratifications may continue for a "reasonable" time, when Congress is the judge of that reasonableness. Dillon v. Gloss, 256 U.S. 368 (1921).

At the bottom of each list I have also indicated which states were admitted to the Union in the decade beginning that year. By including these sub-lists on amendments and state admissions, I hope the reader will be able, without cross-checking from other tables, to determine which year's census data are most appropriate for calculating majority or minority support for a given amendment. Table 2 summarizes the data as they pertain to this question.

A summary of the data precedes the table. More complete summaries apear in the main text.

I have taken or derived all data data from census years prior to 1980 from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970, Volume I, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1975. Data from the 1980 census are taken or derived from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1981, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1981. Finally, I have taken dates of the proposals and ratifications of amendments from the United States Constitution (proposals and ratifications) United States Code (1982).

Summary of Table 1

The least populous three-fourths of the states (called "L" in this Table) comprised less than half of the total national population in sixteen of the twenty census years. The four exceptions were 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1840. With a few dips and rises, the value of L (as a percentage) decreases steadily with time. The potential for a minority to amend the constitution by mustering the consent of three-fourths of the states first appeared in 1820, and has not disappeared since 1850.

1790 L = 56.74 %

1890 L = 48.08 %

1800 L = 50.86 %

1900 L = 43.68 %

1810 L = 52.29 %

1910 L = 46.95 %

1820 L = 49.60 %

1920 L = 43.88 %

1830 L = 46.84 %

1930 L = 41.80 %

1840 L = 50.19 %

1940 L = 41.97 %

1850 L = 49.26 %

1950 L = 41.21 %

1860 L = 48.40 %

1960 L = 40.43 %

1870 L = 46.09 %

1970 L = 39.87 %

1880 L = 49.64 %

1980 L = 41.12 %

The least populous 25 % + 1 of the states represents the smallest percentage of the national population that can veto an amendment. This can be calculated by subtracting from the national total the population of the most populous three-fourths of the states (called "M" in this Table) from the national total and then adding the population of the next most populous state; the ratio of the resulting number to the total national population at the time is the desired figure.

For purposes of this summary I have called the smallest percentage of the population that can veto an amendment "V". Note that V, as calculated by the algorithm above, will occasionally give a higher figure than the actual mimimum population sufficient to veto. When the total number of states in the Union is not evenly divisible by four, then the "three-fourths" of the states needed to amend will be the least number of states exceeding three-fourths. The number of states need to ratify will be rounded up rather than rounded down. When that happens, the complementary "one-fourth" of the states, rounded up, will suffice to veto, without the addition of another state. Hence, the figures below represent 25 % + 1 of the states, even though a mere 25 % has often sufficed to veto. Even though V as calculated may look low, one should realize that proper accounting for this round-off error would show it even lower for many census year.

1790 V = 13.32 %

1890 V = 4.88 %

1800 V = 11.03 %

1900 V = 4.58 %

1810 V = 12.ll %

1910 V = 5.11 %

1820 V = 6.17 %

1920 V = 5.04 %

1830 V = 8.70 %

1930 V = 4.74 %

1840 V = 8.29 %

1940 V = 4.69 %

1850 V = 6.89 %

1950 V = 4.69 %

1860 V = 6.87 %

1960 V = 4.09 %

1870 V = 5.87 %

1970 V = 4.07 %

1880 V = 5.79 %

1980 V = 4.34 %

1780

In 1780, there was no census and no constitution. Before the decade of the l780's was over, however, the constitutional convention was called on February 21, 1787, and it convened on May 25, 1787. Congress formally proposed the constitution written by the convention on September 28, 1787. Under article VII of the new Constitution, it was to be "established" when nine states had ratified it, which occurred with the vote of New Hampshire on June 21, 1788. The vote was eventually made unanimous, which, not incidentally was the requirement of the Articles of Confederation for its own
amendment. The first 10 adopted amendments, the Bill of Rights, were proposed on September 25, l789. The original proposed Bill of Rights contained 12 amendments, but two were defeated by the states. One concerned the apprortionment of representatives, and the other wold have prevented Congressional salary increases from taking effect until after the next election of representatives.

Before the 1790 census, all thirteen of the original colonies, except Rhode Island, had become states of the United States of America. In their order of admission they were: Delaware (DE), 1st, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania (PA), 2d, December 12, 1787; New Jersey (NJ), 3d, December 18, 1787; Georgia (GA), 4th, January 2, 1788; Connecticut (CT), 5th, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts (MA), 6th, February 6, 1788; Maryland (MD), 7th, April 28, 1788; South Carolina (SC), 8th, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire (NH), 9th, June 21, 1788; Virgina (VA), 10th, June 26, 1788; New York (NY), 11th, July 26, 1788; and North Carolina (NC), 12th, November 21, 1789.

1790 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

12 states; 3/4 = 9

VA 692

PA 434

NC 394

MA 379 this and following = L

NY 340

MD 320

SC 249

CT 238

NJ 184 this and preceding = M

NH 142

GA 83

DE 59

Total = 3,514

M = 3,230 = 91.91 %

L = l,994 = 56.74 %

Ratification of the constitution became unanimous when Rhode Island voted to ratify on May 29, 1790. The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, l791, when the eleventh (Virginia) of the then fourteen states voted to ratify. The eleventh amendment was proposed on March 4, 1794, and ratified on January 8, 1798.

The following states were admitted during this decade: Rhode Island (RI), 13th, May 29, 1790; Vermont (VT), 14th, March 4, 1791; Kentucky (KY), 15th, June 1, 1792; and Tennessee (TN), 16th, June 1, 1796.

1800 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

16 states; 3/4 = l2

VA 808

PA 602

NY 589

NC 478

MA 423 this and following = L

SC 346

MD 342

CT 251

KY 221

NJ 211

NH 184

GA 163 this and preceding = M

VT 154

TN 106

RI 69

DE 64

Total = 5,041

M = 4,648 = 92.20 %

L = 2,564 = 50.86 %

The Twelfth Amendment was proposed on December 9, l803, and ratified on September 25, 1804.

Ohio (OH) became the 17th state on March 1, 1803.

1810 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

17 states; 3/4 = 13

NY 959

VA 878

PA 810

NC 556

MA 472 this and following = L

SC 415

KY 407

MD 381

CT 262

TN 262

GA 252

NJ 246

OH 231 this and preceding = M

VT 218

NH 214

RI 77

DE 73

Total = 6,713

M = 6,131 = 91.33 %

L = 3,510 = 52.29 %

The third amendment to be passed by Congress and defeated by the states (after the two in the original Bill of Rights) was proposed by the 11th Congress, 2d Session, between March of 1810 and March of 1811. It would have stripped persons of U.S. citizenship for accepting any title, present, or office from a foreign power without the consent of Congress.

The following states were admitted during this decade: Louisiana (LA), 18th, April 30, 1812; Indiana (IN), 19th, December 11, 1816; Mississippi (MS), 20th, December 10, 1817; Illinois (IL), 21st, December 3, 1818; and Alabama (AL), 22d, December 14, 1819.

1820 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

22 states; 3/4 = 17

NY 1,373

PA 1,049

VA 938

NC 639

OH 581

KY 564 this and following = L

MA 523

SC 503

TN 423

MD 407

GA 341

NJ 278

CT 275

NH 244

VT 236

LA 153

IN 147 this and preceding = M

AL 128

RI 83

MS 75

DE 73

IL 55

Total = 9,088

M = 8,674 = 95.44 %

L = 4,508 = 49.60 %

The following states were admitted this decade: Maine (ME), 23d, March 15, 1820; and Missouri (MO), 24th, August 10, 1821.

1830 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

24 states; 3/4 = 18

NY 1,919

PA 1,348

VA 1,044

OH 938

NC 738

KY 688

TN 682 this and following = L

MA 610

SC 581

GA 517

MD 447

ME 399

IN 343

NJ 321

AL 310

CT 298

VT 281

NH 269 this and preceding = M

LA 216

IL 157

MO 140

MS 137

RI 97

DE 77

Total = 12,557

M = 11,733 = 93.44 %

L = 5,882 = 46.84 %

The following states were admitted this decade: Arkansas (AR), 25th, June 15, 1836; and
Michigan (MI), 26th, January 26, 1837.

1840 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

26 states; 3/4 = 20

NY 2,429

PA 1,724

OH 1,519

VA 1,025

TN 829

KY 780

NC 753 this and following = L

MA 738

GA 691

IN 686

SC 594

AL 591

ME 502

IL 476

MD 470

MO 384

MS 376

NJ 373

LA 352

CT 310 this and preceding = M

VT 292

NH 285

MI 212

RI 109

AR 98

DE 78

Total = 16,676

M = 15,602 = 93.56 %

L = 8,370 = 50.19 %

The following states were admitted this decade: Florida (FL), 27th, March 3, 1845; Texas (TX), 28th, December 29, 1845; Iowa (IA), 29th, December 28, 1846; and Wisconsin (WI), 30th, May 29, 1848.

1850 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

30 states; 3/4 = 23

NY 3,097

PA 2,312

OH 1,980

VA 1,119

TN 1,003

MA 995

IN 988

KY 982 this and following = L

GA 906

NC 869

IL 851

AL 772

MO 682

SC 669

MS 607

ME 583

MD 583

LA 518

NJ 490

MI 398

CT 371

NH 318

VT 314 this and preceding = M

WI 305

TX 213

AR 210

IA 192

RI 148

DE 92

FL 87

Total = 22,654

M = 21,407 = 94.50 %

L = 11,160 = 49.26 %

The following states were admitted this decade: California (CA), 31st, September 9, 1850; Minnesota (MN), 32d, May 11, 1858; and Oregon (OR), 33d, February 14, 1859.

1860 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

33 states; 3/4 = 25

NY 3,881

PA 2,906

OH 2,340

IL 1,712

IN 1,350

MA 1,231

VA 1,220

MO 1,182

KY 1,156 this and following = L

TN 1,110

GA 1,057

NC 993

AL 964

MS 791

WI 776

MI 749

LA 708

SC 704

MD 687

IA 675

NJ 672

ME 628

TX 604

CT 460

AR 435 this and preceding = M

CA 380

NH 326

VT 315

RI 175

MN 172

FL 140

DE 112

OR 52

Total = 30,663

M = 28,991 = 94.55 %

L = 14,841 = 48.40 %

The Thirteenth Amendment was proposed on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 18,
1865. The Fourteenth Amendment was proposed on June 13, 1866, and ratified on July 28, 1868. The Fifteenth Amendment was proposed on February 26, 1869. The fourth amendment to be passed by Congress and defeated by the states was proposed on March 2, 186l. It was the so-called Corwin amendment and would have barred future amendments authorizing Congress to interfere with the domestic insitutions of the states, including slavery.

The following states were admitted this decade: Kansas (KN), 34th, January 29, 1861; West Virginia (WV), 35th, June 20, 1863; Nevada (NV), 36th, October 31, 1864; and Nebraska (NB), 37th, March 1, 1867.

1870 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

37 states; 3/4 = 28

NY 4,383

PA 3,522

OH 2,665

IL 2,540

MO 1,721

IN 1,681

MA 1,457

KY 1,321

TN 1,259

VA 1,225 this and following = L

IA 1,194

GA 1,184

MI 1,184

NC 1,071

WI 1,055

AL 997

NJ 906

MS 828

TX 819

MD 781

LA 727

SC 706

ME 627

CA 560

CT 537

AR 484

WV 442

MN 440 this and preceding = M

KN 364

VT 331

NH 318

RI 217

FL 188

DE 125

NB 123

OR 91

NV 42

Total = 38,115

M = 36,316 = 95.28 %

L = 17,566 = 46.09 %

The Fifteenth Amendment was ratified on March 30, 1870.

Colorado (CO) became the 38th state on August 1, 1876.

1880 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

38 states; 3/4 = 29

NY 5,083

PA 4,283

OH 3,198

IL 3,078

MO 2,168

IN 1,978

MA 1,783

KY 1,649

MI 1,637

IA 1,625 this and following = L

TX 1,592

GA 1,542

TN 1,542

VA 1,513

NC 1,400

WI 1,315

AL 1,263

MS 1,132

NJ 1,131

KN 996

SC 996

LA 940

MD 935

CA 865

AR 803

MN 781

ME 649

CT 623

WV 618 this and preceding = M

NB 452

NH 347

VT 332

RI 277

FL 269

CO 194

OR 175

DE 147

NV 62

Total = 49,363

M = 47,118 = 95.45 %

L = 24,506 = 49.64 %

The following states were admitted this decade: North Dakota (ND), 39th, November 2, 1889; South Dakota (SD), 40th, November 2, 1889; Montana (MT), 41st, November 8, 1889; and
Washington (WA), 42d, November 11, 1889.

1890 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

42 states; 3/4 = 32

NY 6,003

PA 5,258

IL 3,826

OH 3,672

MO 2,679

MA 2,239

TX 2,236

IN 2,192

MI 2,094

IA 1,912

KY 1,859 this and following = L

GA 1,837

TN 1,768

WI 1,693

VA 1,656

NC 1,618

AL 1,513

NJ 1,445

KN 1,428

MN 1,310

MS 1,290

CA 1,213

SC 1,151

AR 1,128

LA 1,119

NB 1,063

MD 1,042

WV 763

CT 746

ME 661

CO 413

FL 391 this and preceding = M

NH 377

WA 357

SD 349

RI 346

VT 332

OR 318

ND 191

DE 168

MT 143

NV 47

Total = 61,844

M = 59,216 = 95.75 %

L = 29,735 = 48.08 %

The following states were admitted this decade: Idaho (ID), 43d, July 3, 1890; Wyoming (WY), 44th, July 10, 1890; and Utah (UT), 45th, January 4, 1896.

1900 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

45 states; 3/4 = 34

NY 7,269

PA 6,302

IL 4,822

OH 4,158

MO 3,107

TX 3,049

MA 2,805

IN 2,516

MI 2,421

IA 2,232

GA 2,216

KY 2,147 this and following = L

WI 2,069

TN 2,021

NC 1,894

NJ 1,884

VA 1,854

AL 1,829

MN 1,751

MS 1,551

CA 1,485

KN 1,470

LA 1,382

SC 1,340

AR 1,312

MD 1,188

NB 1,066

WV 959

CT 908

ME 694

CO 540

FL 529

WA 518

RI 429 this and preceding = M

OR 414

NH 412

SD 402

VT 344

ND 319

UT 277

MT 243

DE 185

ID 162

WY 93

NV 42

Total = 72,610

M = 69,717 = 96.02 %

L = 31,713 = 43.68 %

The Sixteenth Amendment was proposed on July 12, 1909.

Oklahoma (OK) became the 46th state on November 16, 1907.

1910 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

46 states; 3/4 = 35

NY 9,114

PA 7,665

IL 5,639

OH 4,767

TX 3,897

MA 3,366

MO 3,293

MI 2,810

IN 2,701

WI 2,634

GA 2,609

NJ 2,537 this and following = L

CA 2,378

KY 2,290

IA 2,225

NC 2,206

TN 2,185

AL 2,138

MN 2,076

VA 2,062

MS 1,797

KN 1,691

OK 1,657

LA 1,656

AR 1,574

SC 1,515

MD 1,295

WV 1,221

NB 1,192

WA 1,142

CT 1,115

CO 799

FL 753

ME 742

OR 673 this and preceding = M

SD 584

ND 577

RI 543

NH 431

MT 376

UT 373

VT 356

ID 326

DE 202

WY 146

NV 82

Total = 91,410

M = 87,414 = 95.63 %

L = 42,915 = 46.95 %

The Sixteenth Amendment was ratified on February 25, 1913. The Seventeenth Amendment was proposed on May 13, 1912, and ratified on May 31, 1913. The Eighteenth Amendment was
proposed on December 18, 1917, and ratified on January 29, 1919. The Nineteenth Amendment
was proposed on June 4, 1919.

The following states were admitted this decade: New Mexico (NM), 47th, January 6, 1912; and Arizona (AZ), 48th, February 14, 1912.

1920 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

48 states; 3/4 = 36

NY 10,385

PA 8,720

IL 6,485

OH 5,759

TX 4,663

MA 3,852

MI 3,668

CA 3,427

MO 3,404

NJ 3,156

IN 2,930

WI 2,632

GA 2,896 this and following = L

NC 2,559

KY 2,417

IA 2,404

MN 2,387

AL 2,348

TN 2,338

VA 2,309

OK 2,028

LA 1,799

MS 1,791

KN 1,769

AR 1,752

SC 1,684

WV 1,464

MD 1,450

CT 1,381

WA 1,357

NB 1,296

FL 968

CO 940

OR 783

ME 768

ND 647 this and preceding = M

SD 637

RI 604

MT 549

UT 449

NH 443

ID 432

NM 360

VT 352

AZ 334

DE 223

WY 194

NV 77

Total = 105,270

M = 100,616 = 95.58 %

L = 46,189 = 43.88 %

The Nineteenth Amendment was ratified on August 26, 1920. The fifth amendment to be passed by Congress and defeated by the states was proposed in June of 1924. It was the so-called Child Labor Amendment and would have given Congress the jurisdiction to regulate the labor of those under 18 years of age.

1930 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

48 states; 3/4 = 36

NY 12,588

PA 9,631

IL 7,631

OH 6,647

TX 5,825

CA 5,677

MI 4,842

MA 4,250

NJ 4,041

MO 3,629

IN 3,239

NC 3,170

WI 2,939 this and following = L

GA 2,909

AL 2,646

TN 2,617

KY 2,615

MN 2,564

IA 2,471

VA 2,422

OK 2,396

LA 2,102

MS 2,010

KN 1,881

AR 1,854

SC 1,739

WV 1,729

MD 1,632

CT 1,607

WA 1,563

FL 1,468

NB 1,378

CO 1,036

OR 954

ME 797

SD 693 this and preceding = M

RI 687

ND 681

MT 538

UT 508

NH 465

ID 445

AZ 436

NM 423

VT 360

DE 238

WY 226

NV 91

Total = 122,290

M = 117,192 = 95.83 %

L = 51,120 = 41.80 %

The Twentieth Amendment was proposed on March 2, 1932, and ratified on February 6, 1933.
The Twenty-First Amendment was proposed on February 20, 1933, and ratified on December 5, 1933.

1940 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

48 states; 3/4 = 36

NY 13,479

PA 9,900

IL 7,897

OH 6,908

CA 6,907

TX 6,415

MI 5,256

MA 4,317

NJ 4,160

MO 3,785

NC 3,572

IN 3,428

WI 3,138 this and following = L

GA 3,124

TN 2,916

KY 2,846

AL 2,833

MN 2,792

VA 2,678

IA 2,538

LA 2,364

OK 2,336

MS 2,184

AR 1,949

WV 1,902

SC 1,900

FL 1,897

MD 1,821

KN 1,801

WA 1,736

CT 1,709

NB 1,316

CO 1,123

OR 1,090

ME 847

RI 713 this and preceding = M

SD 643

ND 642

MT 559

UT 550

NM 532

ID 525

AZ 499

NH 492

VT 359

DE 267

WY 251

NV 110

Total = 131,006

M = 125,577 = 95.86 %

L = 54,982 = 41.97 %

The Twenty-Second Amendment was proposed on March 21, 1947.

1950 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

48 states; 3/4 = 36

NY 14,830

CA 10,586

PA 10,498

IL 8,712

OH 7,947

TX 7,711

MI 6,372

NJ 4,835

MA 4,691

NC 4,062

MO 3,955

IN 3,934

GA 3,445 this and following = L

WI 3,435

VA 3,319

TN 3,292

AL 3,062

MN 2,982

KY 2,945

FL 2,771

LA 2,684

IA 2,621

WA 2,379

MD 2,343

OK 2,233

MS 2,179

SC 2,117

CT 2,007

WV 2,006

AR 1,910

KN 1,905

OR 1,521

NB 1,326

CO 1,325

ME 914

RI 792 this and preceding = M

AZ 750

UT 689

NM 681

SD 653

ND 620

MT 591

ID 589

NH 533

VT 378

DE 318

WY 291

NV 160

Total = 149,899

M = 143,646 = 95.83 %

L = 61,766 = 41.21 %

The Twenty-Second Amendment was ratified on March 1, l951.

The following states were admitted this decade: Alaska (AK), 49th, January 3, 1959; and Hawaii (HA), 50th, August 21, 1959.

1960 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

50 states; 3/4 = 38

NY 16,782

CA 15,717

PA 11,319

IL 10,081

OH 9,706

TX 9,580

MI 7,823

NJ 6,067

MA 5,149

FL 4,952

IN 4,662

NC 4,556

MO 4,320 this and following = L

VA 3,967

WI 3,952

GA 3,943

TN 3,567

MN 3,414

AL 3,267

LA 3,257

MD 3,101

KY 3,038

WA 2,853

IA 2,758

CT 2,535

SC 2,383

OK 2,382

KN 2,179

MS 2,178

WV 1,860

AR 1,786

OR 1,769

CO 1,754

NB 1,411

AZ 1,302

ME 969

NM 951

UT 891 this and preceding = M

RI 859

SD 681

MT 675

ID 667

HA 633

ND 632

NH 607

DE 446

VT 390

WY 330

NV 285

AK 226

Total = 178,612

M = 172,181 = 96.39 %

L = 72,218 = 40.43 %

The Twenty-Third Amendment was proposed on June 17, l960, and ratified on April 3, l961. The Twenty-Fourth Amendment was proposed on August 27, 1962, and ratified on February 4, 1964. The Twenty-Fifth Amendment was proposed on July 6, 1965, and ratified on February 23, 1967.

1970 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

50 states; 3/4 = 38

CA 19,953

NY 18,237

PA 11,794

TX 11,197

IL 11,114

OH 10,652

MI 8,875

NJ 7,168

FL 6,789

MA 5,689

IN 5,194

NC 5,082

MO 4,677 this and following = L

VA 4,648

GA 4,590

WI 4,418

TN 3,924

MD 3,922

MN 3,805

LA 3,641

AL 3,444

WA 3,409

KY 3,219

CT 3,032

IA 2,824

SC 2,591

OK 2,559

KN 2,247

MS 2,217

CO 2,207

OR 2,091

AR 1,923

AZ 1,771

WV 1,744

NB 1,483

UT 1,059

NM 1,016

ME 992 this and preceding = M

RI 947

HA 769

NH 738

ID 713

MT 694

SD 666

ND 618

DE 548

NV 489

VT 444

WY 332

AK 300

Total = 202,455

M = 195,197 = 96.42 %

L = 80,711 = 39.87 %

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment was proposed on March 23, 1971, and ratified on July 5, 1971.
The sixth amendment to be passed by Congress and defeated by the states was proposed on March 22, 1972. It was the Equal Rights Amendment and would have prohibited discrimination by the state and federal governments on account of sex.

1980 Census

These are the states in declining order by population at the time of this census. Population figures are in thousands. "M" is the most populous 3/4 of the states. "L" is the least populous 3/4 of the states. It takes 3/4 of the states to amend the constitution.

50 states; 3/4 = 38

CA 23,669

NY 17,557

TX 14,228

PA 11,867

IL 11,419

OH 10,797

FL 9,739

MI 9,259

NJ 7,364

NC 5,874

MA 5,737

IN 5,491

GA 5,464 this and following = L

VA 5,346

MO 4,917

WI 4,706

TN 4,591

MD 4,216

LA 4,203

WA 4,130

MN 4,077

AL 3,891

KY 3,661

SC 3,119

CT 3,107

OK 3,026

IA 2,914

CO 2,890

AZ 2,718

OR 2,632

MS 2,520

KN 2,363

AR 2,285

WV 1,950

NB 1,570

UT 1,461

NM 1,299

ME 1,125 this and preceding = M

HA 965

RI 948

ID 945

NH 921

NV 799

MT 787

SD 690

ND 654

DE 596

VT 512

WY 471

AK 400

Total = 225,870

M = 217,182 = 96.15 %

L = 92,869 = 41.12 %

The following are new to the HTML edition, July 1999.

The most populous 37 states = 216,057 = 95.65%

This is the largest coalition unable to amend (unlike M, which can amend, and unlike L, which is the smallest).

The most populous 12 states = 133,001 = 58.55%

This is the largest coalition unable to veto (unlike V, which can veto).